Consume mass quantities

[darkemeralds]

I've watched every episode of Merlin from 101 to 303 in the last week. Now I'm sad because I have to wait almost a week for another ep.

I've been entirely outside the Merlin fandom (it was pandarus's fantastic The Student Prince that enticed me to actually watch the canon source material), so I don't really know what's being said or thought about it, but I'm loving it.

For one thing: lots of pretty, of course. For another, the primary relationship is so passionate, and the supposedly fated heterosexual pairings so free of chemistry, that it's no damn wonder the show has such a slash fandom following.

But mostly it's Colin Morgan. What a face! He's absolutely gorgeous in a way that no American producer would ever allow to be revealed. He acts uncertain and a bit clumsy and terribly earnest and sincere, and all the while he sort of fools the camera into thinking he's a Calvin Klein model, and it makes him riveting to watch.

So, Merlin. Totally hooked.

Comments

[tehomet]

The S6 opener of SPN didn't really float my boat, tbh. I await developments hopefully, but it was tosh. I think even Jensen Ackles wasn't that impressed with it, from what I hear.

When Merlin started, I watched the first episode and didn't fall in instant love (not like I did with Sherlock BBC), so I skipped it after that. Recently, I have seen the first episodes of season three and intend to keep watching. I purely started watching it on the grounds that anitac588 reviews each episode as she watches it, and I trust her judgement. Also, it's difficult to resist a show when there's fic in the fandom by authors I want to read. :D

Colin Morgan is the highlight IMHO. The total lack of even a pretence of historical accuracy really makes me kind of nauseous (I get cravings for Robin of Sherwood!), but as a kind of live action slashy cartoon, it totally works for me. Gaius is a snark-laden peach. And I find it endearing, the way it appears to be made with leftover special effects from Doctor Who and on a budget of fifty cents and a carrot.

[darkemeralds]

LOL! Fifty cents, a carrot, and some amazing costumes and that set they've got, yeah.

It was the lack of historical accuracy that kept me away for two seasons, too--I saw a clip somewhere of Merlin and Arthur saying things like, "Yeah, okay, you prat" and said DNW. After three or four episodes I got over that and realized how clever it really is, the way they interlard a wee bit of courtly speech with everyday modern language--just as they interweave Pre-Raphaelite gowns with authentic-looking armor and real clangy swordfighting. It gives the impression of a historical time and a mythic setting, without becoming a slave to it. It's very clever, really.

As to SPN 601: it was utter crap and though my standards aren't high, I couldn't believe they used their lamest writing for a season opener. Very disappointing.

[scribblemoose]

The producers have said that when they created Merlin they specifically didn't want to tie it to a particular period. Myth places it anywhere from 450AD to late medieval, but what they wanted was more of a fantasy setting, where they could pick the things that would work with the storytelling (like the lanugage, as you say). I think they do a great job. :)

(Sorry, will stop spamming your journal now, I just get excited about Merlin!)

[darkemeralds]

Hey, spam away. I'm excited about it too! And since I'm totally new to the fandom, I'm eager to discuss basics that I'm sure longer-term fans have already covered in depth.